By Bill Zeeble, KERA Reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-756457.mp3
Dallas, TX – Lawyers for some Farmers Branch landlords asked for a temporary restraining order - a TRO - to stop that city's latest renters ordinance from taking effect.
The first two ordinances failed after a federal judge ruled them unconstitutional. This one would force hopeful renters to get city licenses before they could rent a place in Farmers Branch. Their names would then be checked to verify legal residency. Lawyer Bill Brewer, whose clients won those cases, requested the TRO for this one, too.
Brewer: The purpose of the ordinance is to make Farmers Branch unfriendly for immigrants, especially Spanish speakers, and that's not only unfortunate, but it's illegal.
Brewer says this latest Farmers Branch ordinance is even more illegal than previous ones and he expects a TRO will be granted. When the ordinance was passed earlier this year, Farmers Branch officials said it would be upheld because it was written to stay within the law.